Tarvaris Jackson Should Be on Jaguars' Radar as Vikings Departure Looms

It's no secret the Jacksonville Jaguars need a capable backup quarterback. Well, they may have just found their man.

Charley Walters of the St. Paul Pioneer Press in Minnesota reported the Minnesota Vikings are expected to either trade or release newly demoted quarterback Tarvaris Jackson by Friday.

Jackson was competing for the Vikings' starting quarterback position with fellow teammate Sage Rosenfels until Minnesota officially brought in veteran Brett Favre yesterday. Favre signed a two-year, $25 million deal.

For months Favre had been mulling over whether or not he would sign with the team, putting Jackson and Rosenfels in an awkward position.

It has been said the Vikings will try to acquire a future draft pick for Jackson; they would be lucky to receive a seventh rounder. The Jaguars would surely like to be able to pick up Jackson without having to trade anything for him, so they will most likely try to wait and see if the team releases him before they pursue his services.

Jackson would provide the Jaguars with a young player with a strong arm, something that they are lacking after starting QB David Garrard.

The Jaguars have made it clear Garrard is their main guy right now, but he isn't getting any younger, and the Jags need an insurance policy in case Garrard gets hurt.

Jackson has passed for 3,442 yards with 20 touchdowns and 18 interceptions while averaging a meager 76.5 percent QB rating in his three seasons with the Vikings. He started 25 games in his tenure and was taken in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft out of Alabama State. He has good size at 6'2", 232 lbs. and could excel, if needed, in the Jaguars offense.